One family said it got a double dose of misery at the hands of McMaster.

There are dozens of New Mexicans in the same boat as the Martinez family of Santa Fe.

It said it invested its life savings in a scheme that sounded too good to be true, and it was.

According to New Mexico Securities Regulators, McMaster sold an estimated $500,000 worth of official-looking but absolutely worthless promissory notes out of an office suite in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights.

From 2001 to 2005, he promised investors an unusually high rate of return.

Samuel F. Martinez said, "He came over and sweet-talked me to my $15,000."

The father and son said a friend recommended McMaster to them.

And the father in turn recommended McMaster to his son.

Samuel R. Martinez said his wife had some qualms about the investment since it was their son's college fund.

Still, he was seduced.

"It sounds really good to be true," Samuel R. Martinez said. "It's too good to be true, and that's where I?m at now."

Both men said when it came time to pay back their notes with interest, McMaster was nowhere to be found.

Samuel R. Martinez said, "He already flew the coop."

"What I would like to see is justice being served," Samuel F. Martinez said. "This is not right."

And as far as a message to McMaster, Samuel R. Martinez said, "I never met a Sam I didn't like, but he's the one."

Both men said they'll be watching McMaster's case in court to make sure he gets the maximum.

Both said they have no hope of getting any of their money back.

The Martinez family is one of a number of investors who complained to security regulators, who investigated the alleged scheme.